Who ever thought that “geek” would come to be a word of praise? Once a subject of ridicule, it now refers to extreme expertise in a specific area. To some it’s right up there with a PhD.
The computer field, for instance, is one where neophytes can be completely bewildered by the possibilities and problems before them – until a computer geek comes to their aid.
Raul D. Caceres, who heads GEEK In Town - Computer Pro & Networking, Inc., is proud to be a geek who has been solving computer problems for individuals and for small business operators for 23 years.

“Caring for my customers brings great satisfaction to me,” he said. “The main part of my operation is on site. In some cases I will customize the existing computer according to the customer’s needs, including all the computer characteristics that they want and eliminating those that they don’t want. But sometimes I recommend that buying a new computer is cheaper than fixing the old one.”

His clients’ requests cover a wide range, and his recommendations can be different for each person or small business. It’s through individual and personal attention that his firm makes these decisions.

GEEK in Town on-site services to homes and small businesses include PC tune-up, virus and spyware removal, upgrading hard drive without losing any data, hard drive crash data recovery, cable system installation, networks wire and wireless support. Raul is called often by clients who have lost considerable valuable material for lack of a backup system, an installation that he strongly recommends, along with securing the computer so that another computer can’t access its files.

“We work with parents to exercise control of their children’s access to what they can get on the computer,” Raul said. We suggest that the computer be installed in a place where everyone can see it when it’s in use.

He’s also called by clients who find that their new computer is too slow. The reason, he says, is that every new computer has more than 200 “junk” programs in it. He cleans out superfluous programs, leaving only those needed, thus making the computer work faster.

The advantages of dealing with a local computer supplier or repair service are twofold. The client’s needs can be examined in depth, rendering better service, and the community benefits in a troubled economy.

A graduate of the Catholic University in Paraguay, Raul has lived in the United States for 10 years. He teaches computer courses at the Bernardsville Library.

His firm, a member of the Bernardsville Chamber of Commerce and Professionals Business Network of Warren, does community service by offering advice to senior citizens at rates lower than those of an out-of-area company.

The spirit of GEEK in Town, is, “We’re local. We’re here. We care.”